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Mazie Hirono becomes Hawaii's first female Senator

HONOLULU (AP) — U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono says she's happy for heradvantages as a Democrat, but is taking nothing for granted in the race for U.S. Senate. Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle says she considers herself a GOP

In the state's other key race, U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono defeated former Gov. Linda Lingle to become Hawaii's next U.S. senator, prevailing in a race many believed key to shifting power dynamics in Congress.

Hirono, who became the state's first female Senator and the first Asian-American elected to the Senate, ran on a platform of stopping Lingle as a representative of national Republican interests. At every turn in the race, Hirono linked her opponent with well-known GOP names including Mitt Romney, Paul Ryan and George Bush.

Voter surveys in the state consistently showed the president, who was born in Honolulu, with double-digit leads over his Republican challenger, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

Obama's election in 2008 was a source of pride among many Hawaii voters. He graduated from Punahou School in Honolulu and regularly vacations in the Aloha State.

Four years ago, Obama won Hawaii with more than 71 percent of the vote.

Lingle failed in pitching herself as a bipartisan leader who's a better fit for Hawaii given rare Senate elections without incumbents.

"It's irresponsible for national media to be calling the Hawaii race with no data," said Corrie Heck, Lingle's campaign spokeswoman. "They called it within minutes of the polls closing despite considerable challenges in over 20 precincts statewide."

"We remain confident," Heck said.

Hirono said before the race was called that she's happy for her advantages as a Democrat, but took nothing for granted in the race. Lingle said she considered herself an underdog with a strong chance to win.

Two House races are also in play: Democrat Colleen Hanabusa against Republican Charles Djou and Democrat Tulsi Gabbard versus Republican Kawika Crowley.

Voters at polls on Tuesday favored Hirono but had a wide array of opinion. In addition to support for each candidate, some liked neither and simply voted for the candidate they disliked less.

Carolyn Haley, a 53-year-old administrator at an information technology company, said Lingle has been a disaster for Hawaii, but Hirono's not much better.

"I hate her (Lingle) and I hate voting for Mazie but I'm not voting for Lingle," said Haley, who lives in Honolulu.

Lingle said she spoke with several Democrat voters on the campaign trail recently who said they would quietly support her. She said other factors may favor her, such as passionate mayoral voters rallying against a $5 billion rail proposal in Honolulu.

Richard Tran, a 19-year-old student at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, said he voted for Obama but also supported Lingle and Djou, and left some of the ballot blank because he didn't want to vote "blindly."

"I don't go so much for a particular party," Tran said. "I look for someone who matched my views and that could be Republican or Democrat."

The Senate race brought heavier attention on Hawaii than usual because of a rare open race created by U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka's announcement that he would retire. Akaka had held the seat since 1990, when as a congressman he was appointed to replace U.S. Sen. Spark Matsunaga, who died.

The opening dovetailed with Republican hopes of winning four seats nationwide to regain majority control in the U.S. Senate. Lingle, a two-term governor who left office in 2010, was the best chance for a struggling GOP party in Hawaii. She easily won an August primary.

Hirono won a closer Democratic primary against former U.S. Rep. Ed Case, arguing she was a stronger supporter of Obama and Democratic values. She had stronger support from party officials still sore at Case for challenging Akaka in a primary in an earlier race.

Hirono won the endorsement of the state's largest newspaper, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, while Lingle was endorsed by the Maui News and the Hawaii Tribune-Herald. Lingle is a former mayor of Maui.

Hirono undercut Lingle's argument of bipartisanship by saying Lingle is in line with national Republicans, including Obama's GOP opponent Mitt Romney.

Hirono said she hopes Washington politicians can set aside differences that led to abysmal productivity in 2012.

"I'm hopeful that we will be able to focus on what's good for the people of our country," she said.

Alexander Andresian, center, weeps as President Obama is declared the winner on election night during the Nevada State Democratic Party gathering at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. John Gurzinski, AP

Bill Purcell votes at the Centerville Fire Station in Centerville, Idaho. The economy was his big concern as he cast his vote. "I think it needs to be overhauled. I think a new president would help," he says. Katherine Jones, The Idaho Statesman via AP

Sheresa Walker uses a flashlight as poll worker Lloyd Edwards assists before voting in a makeshift tent set up as a polling place at Scholars' Academy, PS 180, in the Rockaway neighborhood in the Queens borough of New York City. Mario Tama ,Getty Images

New York City firefighter Terence O'Donnell stands on sand among voting machines as he prepares to vote in a makeshift tent set up as a polling place at Scholars' Academy, PS 180, in the Rockaway neighborhood in the Queens borough of New York City. Mario Tama, Getty Images

Hundreds of people wait in line to vote at Green Run High School in Virginia Beach. Some people had to wait longer than four hours to cast their vote at the school. Ross Taylor, The Virginian-Pilot via AP

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Assistant election officer Belinda Strickland, left, assists a voter who had a problem with a change of address at precinct 613 Westgate at Washington Mill Elementary School In Fairfax County, Va. J. Scott Applewhite, AP

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